CN112198582A

CN112198582A - Composite structure and lighting structure

Info

Publication number: CN112198582A
Application number: CN202010968068.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 杨·蒂索
Original assignee: LESS
Current assignee: LESS
Priority date: 2015-12-17
Filing date: 2016-12-16
Publication date: 2021-01-08
Also published as: CN108368992B; EP3390904A1; US20210382219A1; WO2017103889A1; JP2019505950A; JP6866442B2; EP3390904B1; JP2019207892A; CN108368992A; US11719873B2; US20230341602A1; HK1254781A1; JP6585848B2; US20190004230A1; US11061177B2; ES2877683T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a composite structure and a lighting structure. The composite structure includes: an optical fiber having: an active photoluminescent layer integrated in the optical fiber to convert primary propagating light wavelengths within the optical fiber into secondary light, the secondary light being emitted from an outer surface of the optical fiber; and a composite overcoat formed on the outside surface of the optical fiber and having (i) an inactive light-transmissive material that is not wavelength converted and is formed on and completely surrounds the outside surface of the optical fiber, and (ii) a light-reflective layer formed on and conforming to an outside surface of the inactive light-transmissive material except for a top layer of the inactive light-transmissive material, wherein the secondary light is to exit the composite structure through the top layer of the inactive light-transmissive material.

Description

Composite structure and lighting structure

The present application is a divisional application of an invention patent application having an application date of 2016, 12 and 16, an application number of "201680074198.5", and an invention name of "optical fiber light source having composite outer cladding structure".

This patent application claims the benefit of prior filing date of U.S. provisional application No.62/268,815 filed on 12, month 17, 2015.

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a light source having a fiber-based side emitter (side-emitter) embedded in a composite overcladding structure, wherein the composite overcladding structure is designed to change the illumination scheme of the fiber-side emitted light (side-emitted light) and facilitate integration of the light source into a system. Other embodiments are also described.

Background

Optical fibers are known to carry optical signals from one fiber end to another without significant loss. In other cases, the optical fiber is designed to leak optical signals in a direction substantially perpendicular to the propagation direction of the optical signals. This effect is typically the result of light (optical signal) interacting with scattering regions (e.g., holes) integrated in the optical fiber. The scattering region may be achieved by adding elements while drawing the fiber, or may be achieved by mechanical, laser or chemical post-treatment of the fiber.

In other cases, luminescent materials are integrated inside the core material, inside the cladding or inside the cladding of the optical fiber to partially or totally convert the primary light or propagating light into secondary light having a shorter or longer wavelength than the primary light.

Disclosure of Invention

One embodiment of the invention is a fiber side-emitting light source having a side-emitting fiber as a light emitter, the side-emitting fiber having a core through which primary light propagates, e.g., according to total internal reflection by a fiber cladding of the fiber. A longitudinal section of the entire length of the optical fiber contains a scattering region for redirecting propagating primary light (i.e., the primary light propagates in the optical fiber until it enters the section) laterally out of the optical fiber. An active photoluminescent material (e.g., as a layer or coating on the outside surface of the cladding of the optical fiber) may also be integrated with the optical fiber to be excited by the redirected primary light and produce wavelength-converted secondary light. In one embodiment, the secondary light combines with some of the primary light that is redirected and not absorbed by the photoluminescent material, producing a broader spectrum of light exiting laterally from the optical fiber, such as white light. However, this combination of primary and secondary light is not limited to generating white light, alternatively the wavelength of the photoluminescent material and the primary light may be designed to generate side-emitting light of another color, for example, blue, green, yellow, orange or red.

The side-emitting optical fibers, including at least their longitudinal sections (which are actually light emitters), are also integrated with the composite overcladding structure (also referred to herein as a shaped overcladding structure) having the designed shape. The term "composite" is used herein to describe a structure made of at least two different materials that differ in physical or chemical properties and that combine to produce a composite structure having properties that differ from the properties of the individual components of the composite structure. For example, the composite structure may be made of a combination of one or more inactive light-transmissive or inactive light-transmissive layers, and a reflective portion or layer.

The composite outer cladding structure may be designed to: asymmetrically shaped such that it reflects side-emitted light from the optical fiber in a preferred "asymmetric" manner, e.g., in a directional manner or in a manner having a preferred lateral direction rather than being omnidirectional, such as redirected light exiting the outer cladding structure passing through only a portion of the entire periphery of the structure (referred to herein as the top surface or top layer); asymmetrically shaped or keyed on its outer bottom surface to facilitate its assembly into the system (e.g., by inserting it longitudinally into the system); made of a different material selected so that it is selectively opaque, transparent or translucent to the side-emitted light exiting the fiber in an asymmetric manner; made of a different material, the material being selected so that it is less flexible than the optical fibre, thereby forming an exoskeleton; made of a different material selected so as to be impermeable or sealed (e.g., waterproof or air-impermeable) to the external environment; made of different materials that contain additional inserts to ease their assembly into the system; presenting a mechanically structured outer or inner surface such that it redirects side-emitted light from the optical fiber into a desired direction, such as a prismatic structure having elongated prismatic cells that form a series of cells in the longitudinal axis direction (longitudinal) of the optical fiber in a side-by-side orientation rather than an end-to-end orientation.

A method for manufacturing an inactive, light-transmissive portion of a shaped overcladding structure, the method comprising a series of extrusion (extrusion) processes in which an optical fibre has been previously formed and covered by an inactive, light-transmissive material in fluid form while passing the optical fibre through a nozzle, which provides a preliminary shape to the light-transmissive portion (once the light-transmissive material has solidified after extrusion); followed by a selective photopolymerization or thermal polymerization process or a mechanical rubbing process to achieve the forming accuracy of the bottom surface of the extruded light-transmitting portion. Another method for manufacturing a shaped overcladding structure may be a continuous overmolding process in which the optical fiber is placed within a mold that assumes the inverse or complementary shape of the final or desired light-transmissive portion, and the continuous overmolding process is combined with a selective photo-or thermal-polymerization process to achieve the precision of the shaping of the bottom surface of the light-transmissive portion. In either case, after the light-transmitting portion is formed, a method for manufacturing a reflecting portion on the bottom surface of the light-transmitting portion by depositing, sputtering, dipping, or evaporating a reflecting material (such as aluminum) to the bottom surface of the light-transmitting portion may be followed. In another embodiment, instead of a reflective layer, a diffusing layer may be formed on the bottom surface, which may be accomplished by depositing, sputtering or evaporating a diffusing particle mixture onto the bottom surface, or dipping the light-transmitting portion in the diffusing particle mixture.

The above summary does not include an exhaustive list of all aspects of the present invention. It is contemplated that the invention may include all systems and methods that can be practiced from all suitable combinations of the various aspects summarized above, as well as those disclosed in the detailed description that follows, and particularly pointed out in the claims and associated drawings. Such combinations may have particular advantages not enumerated in the summary above.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements. It should be noted that references to "an" or "one" embodiment of the invention in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and they mean at least one. Moreover, in the interest of brevity and minimization of the overall number of drawings, a given drawing may be used to describe features of more than one embodiment of the invention and not all elements of a drawing may be required for a given embodiment.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an example of a light source having a composite overcoat structure.

FIG. 1B shows a parabolic composite outer cover structure in a cross-sectional view in a transverse plane.

FIG. 1C shows the side-emitted light exiting the embedded fiber and being redirected by the composite structure of FIG. 1 b.

Figure 2A shows a cross-sectional view of a composite overcoat structure with a prismatic lens top layer in a longitudinal plane.

Fig. 2B illustrates some of the light redirecting and recycling functions of the composite structure of fig. 2 a.

Fig. 2C shows a cross-sectional view of the composite structure of fig. 2a in a transverse plane.

Fig. 3A shows a cross-sectional view in a transverse plane of a composite overcoat structure having a microlens array structure at its top surface.

FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view of the composite outer cover structure of FIG. 3A in a longitudinal plane.

Figure 4A shows a cross-sectional view in a transverse plane of a composite overcoat structure having a single lens structure at its top surface.

FIG. 4B shows a cross-sectional view of the composite outer cover structure of FIG. 4A in a longitudinal plane.

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view in a transverse plane of a composite outer cover structure integrated with a polygonal bottom portion.

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view in a transverse plane of a composite outer cover structure integrated with a polygonal bottom portion having one or more protrusions embedded therein extending outwardly therefrom.

Detailed Description

Several embodiments of the invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings. While the shape, relative position and other aspects of the components described in the embodiments are not explicitly defined, the scope of the invention is not limited to the components shown, which are for illustration purposes only. Moreover, while numerous details are set forth, it will be understood that some embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

In the present invention, a fiber side emitting light source is described, the outer cladding structure of which is made of a different material designed and shaped so as to support the redirection and reshaping of light exiting from the side of an optical fiber embedded in the outer cladding structure. The light source may be used as part of any lighting system.

Referring now to fig. 1A and in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an optical fiber-based side-emitting light source has an optical fiber 6, which optical fiber 6 may have a core and a cladding. The primary propagating light is generated by an optical transmitter (not shown) such as a laser or a Light Emitting Diode (LED) connected to an optical fiber. The primary light propagates along the central longitudinal axis 2 of the optical fiber 6 in the downstream direction as shown until it is scattered out of the optical fiber 6 through one side of the optical fiber 6 by a scattering region (e.g., a scattering region formed in the core of the optical fiber 6). The scattered radiation or coupled-out (outcouplexed) light occurs in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 2 of the optical fiber 6, either in a directional manner (forming a cone or leaf of light having a radial span of less than 360 °), or in an isotropic or omnidirectional manner (radiating with equal intensity around the fiber). An example of scattering regions that can produce such a result can be found in international patent application No. pct/IB2012/000617 (wavegide APPARATUS FOR illumation SYSTEMS) filed on 28/3/2012. Other types of side-emitting fibers may alternatively be used. The optical fibre 6 may also have a layer of photoluminescent material formed thereon to perform wavelength conversion on the primary propagating light to produce side-emitted light comprising secondary light of a different wavelength than the primary light. The side-emitted light produced may exhibit a broader spectrum of light than the primary light, e.g., white light produced by the combination of unabsorbed primary and secondary light. Alternatively, the wavelength of the photoluminescent material and the primary light may be chosen such that very little of the primary light is not absorbed, such that the side emitted light exiting the optical fiber 6 is dominated by secondary light, e.g. red or infrared light.

Still referring to fig. 1A, there is a reflective portion 4 (also referred to as a reflective backing) and a light-transmissive portion 3 that follows the side surface of the optical fiber 6, both forming a single composite overcladding structure (where the optical fiber 6 is "embedded" within the light-transmissive portion 3 of the composite overcladding structure). The light-transmissive portion 3 may be made of a single light-transmissive inactive (i.e., non-photoluminescent or non-wavelength-converting) material (e.g., polycarbonate), and may completely surround the side surfaces of the optical fiber 6 and may leave no air gap between the optical fiber and the reflective portion 4, the reflective portion 4 conforming to the bottom surface of the light-transmissive portion 3 (as shown). The entire light-transmitting portion 3 may be made of the same material, or it may be composed of layers of different materials.

Alternatively, the outer cladding structure of fig. 1A can be considered to have a solid body (e.g., light-transmissive portion 3) made of an inactive light-transmissive material, and which is generally cylindrical (having side surfaces extending from a proximal or proximal surface to a distal or distal surface), but which does not have rotational symmetry about an internal longitudinal axis or stem (e.g., central longitudinal axis 2) of the solid body. The external reflector (e.g., reflector 4) has a curved light-reflecting surface that conforms to and abuts a portion of the side surface of the solid body while leaving another portion of the solid body (e.g., top layer or surface 7) uncovered for illuminating light to exit from the other portion after being reflected by the light-reflecting surface of the reflector.

The outer cover structure facilitates the shaping of the specific illumination scheme or radiation pattern of the side-emitting light and/or facilitates the easy integration of the light source into the system. The outer cladding structure may also serve as an exoskeleton of the light source (wherein the light-transmitting portion 3 is made of a material more rigid than the optical fiber 6).

FIG. 1B illustrates several aspects of an exemplary composite outer cover structure. This is a cross-sectional view in a transverse plane (perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 2 of the optical fiber 6), where fig. 1C shows the side-emitted light exiting the embedded optical fiber 6. One aspect shown is that the light-transmitting portion 3 has a flat or completely horizontal top layer 7 (or top surface 7) not covered by the reflective portion 4, and concentrated or redirected side-emitted light exits through said top layer 7, e.g. into the air surrounding the light source. This is facilitated by the "asymmetric shape" of the composite structure about the central longitudinal axis 2, which refers to the fact that it does not have rotational symmetry about the central longitudinal axis 2. However, as best shown in FIG. 1C, the outer cladding structure may have left-right reflective symmetry about a vertical longitudinal plane 5 (in which the central longitudinal axis 2 is located).

In the specific example of fig. 1B-1C, as shown, the light-transmitting portion 3 has a "parabolic" shape, and in which the reflecting portion 4 is formed as a layer that covers and conforms to the bottom surface of the light-transmitting portion 3, while the top surface (or top layer) 7 of the light-transmitting portion 3 is not covered; however, the light condensing function of the composite lighting structure is not limited to this shape. Any alternative shape of the reflective portion 4 (and its compliant, light-transmissive portion 3 bottom surface) that concentrates light exiting the sides of the optical fiber 6 in a desired direction is possible, such as U-shaped (e.g., as shown in fig. 1A), semi-cylindrical or partially cylindrical, semi-elliptical or partially elliptical, hyperbolic, and multi-segmented shapes (composed of the same or different straight or curved segments, and joined end-to-end to form a longer curve). In one embodiment, the entire outer side surface of the light-transmitting portion 3 (having any of the above-described shapes) or its complete lateral periphery is divided into two continuous portions, namely a top surface or layer 7 and the remainder referred to herein as the bottom surface. The bottom surface may be curved and the entirety thereof covered by the reflective portion 4, but the top surface is not curved (i.e., is flat) and is not covered at all by the reflective portion 4.

The asymmetric shape of the composite cladding serves to concentrate and redirect the side-emitted light (which exits the optical fiber 6) outwardly in a desired lateral direction, in the case of the example herein the side-emitted light is directed outwardly by the top surface 7 (or top layer 7) of the light-transmissive portion 3. Fig. 1B shows the interaction of light exiting the side of the fiber with the outer cladding in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 2 of the fiber 6. In this example, the longitudinal axis 2 of the optical fiber 6 is located substantially on the vertical symmetry axis of the parabolic shape (located in the vertical longitudinal plane 5), in the vicinity of the focal point (defined by the bottom surface) of the parabola. As seen in the perspective view of fig. 1C, light exiting from the longitudinal section 9 of the optical fiber 6 is redirected in a lateral direction by the reflector 4, and in particular due to the asymmetric shape of the reflector 4. In one embodiment, the redirected light exits the composite structure only from the top layer or surface 7 of the composite lighting structure, since the entire bottom surface is covered by the reflector 4.

Fig. 2A and 2B show another composite structure in a cross-sectional view in a longitudinal plane, but in which the top layer 7 is mechanically configured as a "prismatic lens" (or simply prism) structure 10 (but the light redirecting and/or recycling function of the mechanical structure is not limited to prismatic lenses-see, for example, fig. 3A and 4B). The goal here is to redirect and recycle light exiting laterally from the optical fiber 6 and reaching the top surface of the light-transmissive portion 3 so as to become more collimated as it exits along the length of the optical fiber 6 and outwardly. The prism structure 10 may have any suitable combination of adjacently disposed prism or cone units, each of which may be tilted with respect to the vertical, such as a one-dimensional array of adjacently disposed tilted prism units or other types of prism units arranged to form a prism lens that performs a particular beam redirection function. In this embodiment of the prism structure 10, each individual prism unit is elongated in the lateral direction as shown in fig. 2C, and the prism units are arranged or oriented side-by-side (not end-to-end) in the longitudinal direction as shown in fig. 2A and 2B. In other embodiments, the prism units may not be elongated, for example the prism units may be square. The prism structure 10 may be made of a suitable light-transmitting material, which may be different from the material directly connected to the underlying light-transmitting portion 3; the prism structure can be made as a separate component (of which the top surface or top layer 7 is part) which is then connected to the flat top surface of the light-transmitting portion 3. Fig. 2B shows the interaction between the light exiting the side of the optical fiber 6 and the composite cladding in the longitudinal plane of the optical fiber 6. The light exiting the optical fiber may be directly redirected by refraction at the air-prism interface (shown as (r)) and the light exiting the optical fiber may also be indirectly redirected, i.e., undergo multiple reflections within the composite lighting structure before exiting the composite lighting structure (shown as (r)). Fig. 2C shows the composite structure of fig. 2A in a cross-sectional view in a transverse plane.

Fig. 3A shows a cross-sectional view in a transverse plane of a composite overcoat structure having a microlens array structure 12 at its top surface 7. FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view of the composite outer cover structure of FIG. 3A in a vertical longitudinal plane. In this embodiment, each individual microlens is elongated in the lateral direction as shown in fig. 3A, and the microlenses are arranged or oriented side-by-side (not end-to-end) in the longitudinal direction as shown in fig. 3B. In contrast to the single continuous lens structure 14 shown in fig. 4A and 4B "completely" focusing the side-emitting light out of the outer cladding layer, the individual microlenses of the microlens structure 12 are considered to "selectively" focus or homogenize the side-emitting light out of the outer cladding layer structure ". Both the microlens array structure 12 and the single continuous lens structure 14 may be made of a suitable light-transmissive material, which may be different from the light-transmissive material directly connected to the underlying light-transmissive portion 3; and the microlens array structure 12 and the single continuous lens structure 14 may each be made as a separate component (of which the top surface or layer 7 is part) which is then connected to the flat top surface of the light-transmitting portion 3.

Fig. 5 and 6 illustrate additional aspects of embodiments of composite structures, showing different examples of bottom portions of composite structures that may be used to more easily secure light sources as part of a larger system. Fig. 5 shows a polygonal-shaped bottom part 16 (or polygonal bottom part 16) which conforms to the outer surface of the reflector 4 on one side and is polygonal-shaped on the other side (here, having a left corner and a right corner, the left corner being connected to the right corner by a straight portion, although other polygonal shapes are also possible). The polygonal shape enables the bottom portion 16 to act as a keying structure to mount the light source into a mating keying receptacle of the system. Fig. 6 shows the structure of fig. 5 in combination with several protrusions 17 (two of which are visible), wherein the protrusions 17 are fixed to and extend outwardly from the outer surface of the polygonal bottom portion 16. The protrusion 17 may be used to secure the light source to the system. The protrusions may be made of the same material as the polygonal bottom portion 16, so that they form a single or integral part of the light source. Alternatively, the projections 17 may be separately formed components that are bonded to or inserted into the polygonal base portion 16 (e.g., prior to a polymerization process that creates precise boundaries of the outer sides of the polygonal base portion 16).

While certain embodiments have been described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art. For example, while fig. 2A-2C illustrate a prismatic lens structure comprised of elongated prismatic cells arranged side-by-side in an order extending in a longitudinal plane, an alternative may be to orient the prismatic cells side-by-side in an order extending in a transverse plane. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting.

Claims

1. A composite structure with embedded side-emitting optical fibers, comprising:

an optical fiber having: an active photoluminescent layer integrated in the optical fiber to convert primary propagating light wavelengths within the optical fiber into secondary light, the secondary light being emitted from an outer surface of the optical fiber; and

a composite overcoat formed on the outside surface of the optical fiber, the composite overcoat having (i) an inactive light transmissive material that is not wavelength converted and is formed on and completely surrounds the outside surface of the optical fiber, and (ii) a light reflective layer formed on and conforming to an outside surface of the inactive light transmissive material except for a top layer of the inactive light transmissive material, wherein the secondary light is to exit the composite structure through the top layer of the inactive light transmissive material.

2. The composite structure of claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the light reflecting layer taken in a transverse plane defines a parabola, and at least a portion of the optical fiber is located near a focal point of the parabola.

3. The composite structure of claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the light reflecting layer taken in a transverse plane defines a portion of a circle, a portion of an ellipse, or a portion of a hyperbola.

4. The composite structure of claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the light reflecting layer taken in a transverse plane defines a line comprising a plurality of line segments of different curvatures.

5. The composite structure of claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the light reflecting layer taken in a transverse plane defines a line comprising a plurality of straight segments joined end-to-end.

6. The composite structure of claim 1, wherein the top layer of inactive light transmitting material comprises a plurality of prisms oriented side-by-side rather than end-to-end in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber.

7. The composite structure of claim 1, wherein the top layer of inactive light transmissive material comprises a plurality of microlenses in a longitudinal plane or in a transverse plane.

8. The composite structure of claim 1, wherein the top layer of non-active light transmitting material comprises a single convex lens in a longitudinal plane or in a lateral plane.

9. A composite structure according to claim 1, wherein the composite overcoat further comprises a bottom portion, one side of the bottom portion conforms to and contacts the bottom surface of the light reflecting layer, and the other opposite side of the bottom portion is a polygon shaped on a longitudinal plane or a transverse plane.

10. The composite structure of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of tabs secured to and extending from the bottom portion.

11. The composite structure of claim 10, wherein the protrusion is made of the same material as the bottom portion of the composite outer cover or is formed as an integral part of the bottom portion.

12. The composite structure of claim 10, wherein the protrusion is formed as a separate component from the bottom portion and is bonded to the bottom portion.

13. The composite structure of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber has a longitudinal section with a scattering structure formed therein for redirecting the primary propagating light within the optical fiber laterally out of the optical fiber.

14. The composite structure of claim 1, wherein the composite overcoat has an asymmetric shape about a central longitudinal axis of the optical fiber.

15. The composite structure according to claim 1, wherein the secondary light is reflected by the light reflecting layer in a preferred lateral direction so as to exit through the top layer of the non-active light transmitting material.

16. An illumination structure, comprising:

an optical fiber having an active photoluminescent layer integrated therein to convert primary propagating light wavelengths within the optical fiber into secondary light;

a solid body made of an inactive, light-transmissive material, wherein the optical fiber is located inside the solid body, wherein the secondary light is emitted into the solid body from an outer side surface of the optical fiber; and

an external reflection portion having a light reflection surface that conforms to and abuts a portion of a side surface of the solid body while leaving another portion of the solid body uncovered for the secondary light to exit from the other portion of the solid body after being reflected by the light reflection surface of the external reflection portion.

17. The lighting structure of claim 16, wherein a cross-section of said external reflector taken in a transverse plane relative to a longitudinal axis of said body defines a parabola, and an intersection of said transverse plane and at least a portion of said optical fiber is located at a focal point of said parabola.

18. The lighting structure of claim 16, wherein said external reflector covers a majority of the entire area of said solid side surface.

19. The lighting structure of claim 16, wherein said another portion of said solid body not covered by said external reflector is planar.

20. The lighting structure of claim 16, wherein the other portion of the solid body not covered by the external reflector has a layer of microlenses and is substantially planar.

21. The lighting structure of claim 16, wherein said another portion of said entity not covered by said external reflector has a prismatic layer through which said secondary light is redirected out and is substantially planar.

22. The illumination structure of claim 16, wherein the optical fiber has a longitudinal section with a scattering structure formed therein for redirecting primary propagating light within the optical fiber laterally out of the optical fiber.

23. The lighting structure of claim 16, wherein said solid body is substantially cylindrical, but does not have rotational symmetry about an inner longitudinal axis of said solid body.

24. The lighting structure of claim 16, further comprising:

a bottom portion conforming to and in contact with the external reflective portion; and

a plurality of tabs secured to and extending from the bottom portion.

25. The lighting structure of claim 16, wherein said secondary light is reflected by said light reflecting surface in a preferred lateral direction so as to exit said another portion.

26. An illumination structure, comprising:

a solid body made of an inactive light-transmitting material and having an asymmetric shape;

an optical fiber having an active photoluminescent layer integrated therein, wherein the optical fiber is located inside the entity; and

a light emitter connected to the optical fiber and generating primary propagating light within the optical fiber,

wherein the active photoluminescent layer converts the primary propagating light wavelengths within the optical fiber into secondary light, which is emitted from the optical fiber and enters the entity.

27. The illumination structure of claim 26, wherein the light emitter comprises a laser or a light emitting diode that generates the primary propagated light.

28. The lighting structure of claim 26, further comprising an external reflector portion that conforms to and abuts a first portion of an outside surface of said solid body while leaving a second portion of said outside surface of said solid body uncovered for causing said secondary light to exit from said second portion of said outside surface of said solid body after being reflected by said external reflector portion.

29. The lighting structure of claim 28, wherein said second portion of said outer side surface of said solid body is planar.

30. The illumination structure of claim 28, wherein a cross-section of the external reflector taken in a transverse plane defines a parabola, and at least a portion of the optical fiber is located at a focal point of the parabola.

31. The lighting structure of claim 28, wherein said second portion of said outer side surface of said entity has a lenticular or prismatic layer through which said secondary light is redirected out.

32. The lighting structure of claim 28, further comprising:

a plurality of tabs secured to and extending from the bottom portion.

33. The illumination structure of claim 26, wherein the optical fiber has a longitudinal section with a scattering structure formed therein for redirecting primary propagating light within the optical fiber laterally out of the optical fiber.

34. A composite structure, comprising:

an outer cladding layer formed on an outer side surface of an optical fiber and having an inactive light-transmitting material that does not perform wavelength conversion and is formed on and entirely around the optical fiber, wherein the outer cladding layer is asymmetrically shaped on a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber; and

a light emitter connected to the optical fiber and generating primary propagating light within the optical fiber, the optical fiber converting the primary propagating light wavelength into secondary light, the secondary light being emitted into the inactive light-transmissive material.

35. The composite structure of claim 34, wherein the secondary light is emitted radially about the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber in an omnidirectional manner.

36. A composite structure according to claim 34, wherein the overcoat layer comprises a light reflective layer formed on and conforming to an outside surface of the inactive light transmissive material except for a top layer of the inactive light transmissive material for the secondary light to exit therefrom.

37. The composite structure of claim 36, wherein a cross-section of the light reflecting layer taken in a transverse plane defines a parabola, and at least a portion of the optical fiber is located near a focal point of the parabola.

38. The composite structure of claim 36, wherein the top layer of inactive light transmissive material comprises at least one of: a plurality of microlenses, and a single convex lens.

39. The composite structure of claim 34, wherein the outer cover includes a bottom portion having a first side conforming to and contacting a bottom surface of the outer cover and a second side opposite the first side and being a polygon shaped on a longitudinal plane or a transverse plane.

40. The composite structure of claim 39, further comprising a plurality of tabs secured to and extending from the bottom portion.